Official Review: Liliana and the Relics of Power
Posted: 22 Sep 2019, 12:00
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Liliana and the Relics of Power" by Geoffrey M Noblitt.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Liliana is your average 12-year-old girl. She goes to school, plays with her friends, and loves to read. At the same time, she is also a famous leader in a land called Worthia, where over many years she has saved the realm from dangers and defeated villainous aggressors. One night, a dwarf appears at her bedside to bring her back to Worthia. A new enemy, the Dark Knight, is threatening the land and all who live there. She agrees to go with him and help. The only problem? She can’t remember anything about Worthia, its inhabitants, or her role there.
Liliana and the Relics of Power by Geoffrey M. Noblitt is a middle-grade fiction fantasy novel that is reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. Accompanied by dwarfs, elves, giants, and pixies, along with a particularly wise mouse, Liliana is sent on a quest to collect Worthia’s most powerful relics of power before her enemy recovers them first. This is a land where magic abounds, and each relic controls its own element: the earth, the sea, the wind, the trees, and even wisdom itself.
The area where this book most excels is in world-building. Worthia is a mystical but believable land, and the descriptions and imagery make it easy for the reader to picture. Everything, from the landscape to the clothing to the magical relics, is elegantly described and fun to imagine. The novel is also action-packed, and the reader is taken on a wild ride. It kept me turning the pages in anticipation of what might happen next. All the different races of Worthia are fun to learn about as well, as they each have their own values and traditions.
This novel is geared toward middle-grade readers, and it suffers from some of the deficiencies that I think are common in books for that demographic. The character development is a bit lacking. Liliana’s character does have some authentically emotional moments, such as when she is feeling homesick or is frustrated about not getting her way. Overall, however, she simply takes the necessary actions without letting the reader see her as a person with depth. The secondary characters are all flat. Her allies are likable, but their backstories are never touched upon in detail, and they lack defining personality traits.
In addition, there are some plot holes and areas where details are glossed over with insufficient information. For example, Liliana starts the book with no memories of Worthia. As her memories begin to return, however, the reader remains in the dark. A prior villain and battle are frequently mentioned but never explained. At one point, I stopped to check whether this is the second book in a series, but it is not. Nevertheless, the book provided enough information for me to get sucked into the story and root for the “good guys” to win.
The book appeared professionally edited, and I only noticed a few very minor errors. Because of the exciting plot and excellent world-building, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Although I, as an adult reader, was bothered by the lack of character development and the insufficient plot details, I think the target demographic would be less deterred by these elements. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 8 or older who loves adventure and fantasy. The book is a clean read for sensitive groups, with no profanity, romance, or graphic violence.
******
Liliana and the Relics of Power
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
3 out of 4 stars
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Liliana is your average 12-year-old girl. She goes to school, plays with her friends, and loves to read. At the same time, she is also a famous leader in a land called Worthia, where over many years she has saved the realm from dangers and defeated villainous aggressors. One night, a dwarf appears at her bedside to bring her back to Worthia. A new enemy, the Dark Knight, is threatening the land and all who live there. She agrees to go with him and help. The only problem? She can’t remember anything about Worthia, its inhabitants, or her role there.
Liliana and the Relics of Power by Geoffrey M. Noblitt is a middle-grade fiction fantasy novel that is reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. Accompanied by dwarfs, elves, giants, and pixies, along with a particularly wise mouse, Liliana is sent on a quest to collect Worthia’s most powerful relics of power before her enemy recovers them first. This is a land where magic abounds, and each relic controls its own element: the earth, the sea, the wind, the trees, and even wisdom itself.
The area where this book most excels is in world-building. Worthia is a mystical but believable land, and the descriptions and imagery make it easy for the reader to picture. Everything, from the landscape to the clothing to the magical relics, is elegantly described and fun to imagine. The novel is also action-packed, and the reader is taken on a wild ride. It kept me turning the pages in anticipation of what might happen next. All the different races of Worthia are fun to learn about as well, as they each have their own values and traditions.
This novel is geared toward middle-grade readers, and it suffers from some of the deficiencies that I think are common in books for that demographic. The character development is a bit lacking. Liliana’s character does have some authentically emotional moments, such as when she is feeling homesick or is frustrated about not getting her way. Overall, however, she simply takes the necessary actions without letting the reader see her as a person with depth. The secondary characters are all flat. Her allies are likable, but their backstories are never touched upon in detail, and they lack defining personality traits.
In addition, there are some plot holes and areas where details are glossed over with insufficient information. For example, Liliana starts the book with no memories of Worthia. As her memories begin to return, however, the reader remains in the dark. A prior villain and battle are frequently mentioned but never explained. At one point, I stopped to check whether this is the second book in a series, but it is not. Nevertheless, the book provided enough information for me to get sucked into the story and root for the “good guys” to win.
The book appeared professionally edited, and I only noticed a few very minor errors. Because of the exciting plot and excellent world-building, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Although I, as an adult reader, was bothered by the lack of character development and the insufficient plot details, I think the target demographic would be less deterred by these elements. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 8 or older who loves adventure and fantasy. The book is a clean read for sensitive groups, with no profanity, romance, or graphic violence.
******
Liliana and the Relics of Power
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
). Definitely sounds like something a middle-grade reader would enjoy.